Can vitamins have any negetive effects on the body?

Too much of anything can be a bad thing. Going way over your RDA can be harmful. Figure out what that is and whether you’re over it with the dosage you’re on and the other things in your diet.

I used to feel flushed and nauseated for a short time when I took a B Complex vitamin but it passed. An old doctor’s book I found said to smell your B vitamins separately and take what smells good to you each day! I never tried that but I like the smell of the B complex I take.

Take them with milk, why are you taking selective vitamins and minerals instead of a broad spectrum multi vitamin/mineral?
you can over dose on fat soluble vitamins, water soluble ones are pee’d out in the urine
fyi males should take the iron free supplements as it’s better for their heart.

A couple things to keep in mind. Supplements are different from getting vitamins from food. B6 is water soluble (usually means it’s reasonably safe, but always do your research) but in supplement form it can cause nerve problems with consistently high doses. Omega 3 in very high doses (3g +) can cause increased bleeding (think stroke). And Zinc can become toxic (and fatal) and suppress the absorption of other minerals such as iron and copper. Stay with the RDA and you should be ok, going over that is usually ok if you’re healthy but do plenty of research, especially if your talking about stepping up through the metric scale (mg to g for ex.), and always talk to your doctor about what you’re taking (some medications are contraindicated, possibly aspirin and omega 3 as one study suggests).

Please consult a professional. Vitamins and minerals have been proven to be either ineffective in some cases, poisonous in others.

Not to mentions herbs et al; gingko biloba was just declared as BS, btw, in a clinical study.

Over-vitamining can be bad for you – especially the oil-based ones – like A and E.

@12_func_multi_tool Milk won’t work. I’m lactose intolerant. And the reason I’m taking specific supplements and not a general multi vitamin is because the research I’ve done shows these are supposed to improve skin. My wedding is approaching and I’m trying to avoid any chance
of a breakout on my big day!

Here are the mg of each:
Omega 3 fish oil: 1000 mg, take 3 x’s daily (I only take one)
Zinc: 50mg, take one daily
B6: 200 mg, take one daily

1) Take the vitamins with food or at least milk.

2) Make sure you aren’t taking more than the recommended daily amount (RDA).

3) In many people Omega-3 supplements can cause an upset stomach, as can zinc, even at the recommended doses.

If you take too much:

Vitamin B6 is usually safe, at intakes up to 200 mg per day in adults. However, vitamin B6 can cause neurological disorders, such as loss of sensation in legs and imbalance, when taken in high doses (200 mg or more per day) over a long period of time. Vitamin B6 toxicity can damage sensory nerves, leading to numbness in the hands and feet as well as difficulty walking. Symptoms of a pyridoxine overdose may include poor coordination, staggering, numbness, decreased sensation to touch, temperature, and vibration, and tiredness for up to six months. Source

An omega-3 overdose is likely to cause any of the usual omega-3 side effects, but perhaps more severely. In particular, stomach upset can be expected. In serious cases, an overdose could increase the risk of bleeding, including dangerous internal bleeding, such as gastrointestinal bleeding or bleeding in the brain. Symptoms of such bleeding may include:
* Easy bruising or bleeding
* Black, tarry stools; bright red blood in the stool; or vomiting of blood (signs of gastrointestinal bleeding)
* Signs of a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain), such as vision or speech changes, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or a severe headache. Source

The danger of taking zinc supplements can be summarized in two words: zinc overdose. A zinc dose of 40 milligrams is approved safe to use by FDA and a zinc dosage more than this can pose certain risks. In terms of zinc toxicity, there is no other way to put it: excess zinc is dangerous! This is primarily true because too much zinc will likely interfere with the metabolism and absorption of other essential minerals in your body, most especially iron, magnesium and copper. Zinc side effects can become potentially serious if you take doses from 150 to 450 mg a day. Taking this much can decrease your copper, iron and magnesium levels, reduce your body’s immune function, and reduce your HDL (good cholesterol) level.

Zinc Sulfate Side Effects
Oral zinc sulfate supplements can also cause side effects such as stomach upset, heartburn and nausea. Rare side effects have also been reported and these include fever, sore throat, mouth sores, weakness and fatigue. Zinc is a very important mineral but you only need to take just enough. If you decide on taking mineral supplements for one or more reasons, it is very important that you consult your doctor first and report whatever zinc side effects you experience. Source

@Darwin GA! That info was great. After reading that, it seems like the Zinc may be giving me the most problems. I have been experiencing heartburn after taking the pills and I usually never have heartburn.

Here I thought these supplements were supposed to be so healthy for me! It seems like there are so many negatives and not many positives…

@ItalianPrincess1217 – Health is all about balance – neither too much nor too little gives you the best result.

One thing to do to help your skin is get the right amount of sleep, eat a balanced, healthy diet, and make sure to drink water.

@Darwin I’m definitely trying to do all those things also. I just figured taking these supplements would help out. But I wasn’t aware of how it can be unsafe. I’ve posted the mg’s of each above. Are these safe amounts? Does weight have any effect on the amount I should be taking?

I am sure weight has an effect, but so does how much of these things you are getting with your food. Usually you get plenty of zinc and B6 from diet, and, if you eat salmon periodically, you will also get plenty of Omega-3s. The RDA for zinc is 40 mg, and for B6 is 200 mg, but if you are getting some in your diet already you don’t need even this much.

There is no RDA for Omega-3s but taking it routinely can make you develop a “fishy” body odor, as well as the various side-effects. It is suggested that you not take more than 1000 mg in a day, and definitely not 3 pills of that strength every day. More info on Omega-3s

If you really think you need supplements, the best thing to do is get a full check up from your doctor.

@ItalianPrincess1217 The Omega3 in fish oil is ok, but I have had better reults with the combination of fish oil, flaxseed oil and borage oil. Total cholsterol increased slightly, HDL dropped from 81 to 71. Be careful about mixing fish oils with vitamin C. It cancels out the fish oil’s benefits. Don’t overdo on any supplement. A little may be good, but too much may be toxic.

Depends on the vitamins. Water-soluble ones get flushed out easily.